HELLAS VERONA v AC MILAN: KEYS TO THE MATCH

Turn the page and start over again. This is the aim for Stefano Pioli's AC Milan who, after the unfortunate events in the Champions League midweek, go to Verona Sunday evening for matchday ten of Serie A. The Rossoneri are on the hunt for their third successive league win, but face a Hellas Verona side who have a new man in charge and are in desperate need to turn around a set of negative results that has characterised their start to this campaign. Let's take a look and analyse the key areas that may decide the final result.

INJURY-TIME
Hellas Verona come into the game on the back of two narrow defeats, both coming in stoppage-time: at Bentegodi against Udinese and in Salerno in their last game, where they lost 2-1. And they conceded late in their two games prior to those mentioned as well, against Fiorentina and Lazio. Meanwhile, AC Milan have won at the death this season at Empoli (3-1), despite conceding in injury-time too, and have shown a game is never over until the final whistle blows. Character, determination and a will to fight and bring home the three points will be key in this fixture, especially when a match can be decided in the dying moments. 

ONE VS ONE
The returning Junior Messias to the squad is another weapon for Coach Pioli. The Brazilian's creativity, the explosiveness of Rafa Leão and the dribbling skills of Brahim Diaz will be important against a defence that often invites one v ones. The 3-4-2-1 formation, and it's variations the Veronese use, has always been focused on pressing high and aggressive, in your face, man marking, as the 29 yellow cards received this campaign prove. With this in mind, it will be important for the Rossoneri to evade this high press and look to surprise the high Gialloblu backline in order to open up and create goal-scoring opportunties. Getting past the high press with quick and precise exchanges will not only be relevant at the top of the pitch but also in the build-up phase through midfield, which will allow AC Milan to attack the home side's defence with a numerical advantage; winning individual battles will be crucial, too.

THE MIDFIELD BATTLE
Tonali-Bennacer on one side, Veloso-Tameze on the other. These are both side's two certainties in the centre of the field, but who will be given the least rein by their respective Head Coaches. They have different characteristics but are just as important at the same time for both sides' line-ups: if Bennacer and Veloso's roles are ball possession and positioning, Tonali and Tameze offer legs and timely runs into the box. Sandro is the most dynamic in the Rossoneri ranks and showed last season at the Bentegodi what he can do, grabbing a decisive double in the team's last outing in Verona. Bennacer and Veloso will have the task of setting the tempo of the game; prevailing in that crucial area of the pitch, in the middle of the park, will guarantee control and the solidity needed to come out on top in this one.

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